Will There Be a Black James Bond One Day? Idris Elba Reportedly Tested for the Role

The buzz on the upcoming James Bond film, Skyfall, has been ecstatic, so of course it’s time to rush past the present and look to the future. And the future could hold a black James Bond. If that seems like a highly unlikely possibility, then it should come as a surprise that Bond producer Barbara Broccoli met with Idris Elba (Prometheus) for the role according to Skyfall actress Naomie Harris. “I didn’t realize that there was this talk and then I did a film with Idris,” said Harris, “and he said that he met Barbara Broccoli and that it does seem like there is a possibility in the future that there could very well be a black James Bond.”

Hit the jump for more.

Despite his conversation with Broccoli, Elba doesn’t seem interested in the role. Earlier this year, he said [via Yahoo! Movies UK]

“I don’t want to be the black James Bond. Sean Connery wasn’t the Scottish James Bond, and Daniel Craig wasn’t the blue-eyed James Bond, so if I played him, I don’t want to be called the black James Bond.”

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what he would be called until he established the character beyond skin color, which I’m sure he could absolutely do. However, until the first movie came out, he would be identified as the “black James Bond”.

While I can absolutely see Elba wielding the Walther PPK with a license to kill, it seems unlikely that he’ll ever don the tux simply because Craig is contracted for two more Bond movies. By the time Craig is done with Bond, the 40-year-old Elba could be brushing up against 50, although Craig has said, ““I am not going to outstay my welcome. Someone else will have to have the chance to have a crack at this.” Either way, it’s cool to know that one day a suave African-British gentleman could play James Bond.

COLLIDER participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COLLIDER gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive.